Please help identify silversmith on French perfume bottle

PHOTOS REQUIRED - marks + item
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cgonzalez100
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Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 9:44 pm

Please help identify silversmith on French perfume bottle

Post by cgonzalez100 »

I have a lovely perfume bottle with French silver hallmarks on the lid. I'm having difficulty identifying the silversmith. The silversmith initials are M.Y. with an anchor in between. I cannot find such a maker with these initials. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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anikopol
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Re: Please help identify silversmith on French perfume bottle

Post by anikopol »

Hi,

In order to make the research easier, you should post pics of others marks. They would enable to define the region and the period of the object.
cgonzalez100
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 9:44 pm

Re: Please help identify silversmith on French perfume bottle

Post by cgonzalez100 »

Thank you anikopol. The other hallmark is that of the head of Minerve, 1st standard for .950/1000 silver. The lid on this bottle is silver, not silverplate or other metal. I have not been able to identify the silversmith's mark.
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anikopol
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Re: Please help identify silversmith on French perfume bottle

Post by anikopol »

According to the marks, this object was made in Paris between 1838 and 1972, and is made of 950/1000 silver.
Unfortunatly, I did not found the silversmith mark either in the Vocabulaires database (http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/inventai/patrimoine/) or in this database (http://www.silvercollection.it/frenchsi ... sMDUE.html).
Surprisingly, it may be harder to find the name of a French silversmith of the 19th century than of the 18th….
blakstone
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Re: Please help identify silversmith on French perfume bottle

Post by blakstone »

I'm not sure I agree. The mark is not listed in either volume of Arminjon's books of Parisian marks, nor on the French Architecture & Patrimoine website which covers Paris marks up into the 20th century.

Moreover, I definitely see something underneath Minerva's chin which could be a différent: the small distinctive unique character used to identify the provincial assay offices. A large, sharp photo of the Minerva might help. Also (as I mentioned in a recent thread) you can tell if the piece was assayed at a provincial office by the orientation of the insects on the bigorne mark opposite the Minerva's head. That alone, though, won't tell you which office; only the différent will do that. Unfortunately, if the différent is too worn to be legible, identifying the maker will very much be a needle in a haystack if the piece is indeed provincial.
cgonzalez100
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 9:44 pm

Re: Please help identify silversmith on French perfume bottle

Post by cgonzalez100 »

Thank you blakstone and anikopol. Unfortunately, my camera cannot get a clear enough picture. I looked closely with a loupe and do not find anything such as a symbol or letter other than the number 1 beside the Minerve head. But then again, I haven't polished the silver too much. The hallmarks are repeated on the collar, I've attached another set of pictures from that section of the piece and hopefully they will give a clearer view. I was hoping to find the silversmith, but I've looked at other resources and cannot seem to find a maker with those initials. The collar area is marked for a retailer whose shop was located in Paris during the late 19th century, so I had assumed it was not meant for export or for the provenances.
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dognose
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Re: Please help identify silversmith on French perfume bottle

Post by dognose »

Hi,

Who was the retailer? It is always helpful to furnish as much information about the piece as possible.

Trev.
cgonzalez100
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 9:44 pm

Re: Please help identify silversmith on French perfume bottle

Post by cgonzalez100 »

Thank you dognose
The name written on the side is Tonnel Paris. I couldn't get a clear enough picture, but it is written on the side. I've included a picture from my research of the original shop on the rue de la paix. I've just finished cleaning the hallmarks to see better with a loupe. I wanted to be certain I was correct on the initials for the maker's marks. Indeed, the silversmith's initials are M.Y. with an anchor...I'm thinking it's going to be difficult to find this silversmith
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